West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-10-21
HAMPERS FERRY LETTER.


pany have progressed so far that the
places are nearly fixed for the great
draft pipes by means Of which the
machinery will be driven with much
accelerated velocity, and the pipes
themselves-fve in number-are al
ready on the ground, to be suspend
ed in the receptacles prepared for
them. They are each fifteen feet in
length, of the form of q frustrum of
a cone-the greater end nine feet
and the smaller seven feet and one
inch in diameter. We believe that
this continuance has been long
known to adopts, but we confess
that to us it is novelty. We will
not undertake to describe at length
the manner in which the pipes will
be applied to the purpose Of turning
the machinery and indeed we doubt
our ability to do so even if space
permitted, but we will say that our
understanding is that they are to be
suspended directly beneath the
wheels, and that vacuum created
within them will aid the power of
the descending water in imparting
motion to the machinery. The very
sight of them is encouraging to us,
for. while we confess to almost en-
tire ignorance concerning such de-
vices, we are certain that those in
charge of the works understand the
business in hand and that every
agency employed will be put to the
best uses.
We were glad to meet, 4 few days
ago, Mr.. William f. Cochran, the
famous inventor who was then here
on a visit to his home. He has been
engaged on another labor saving
contrivance, and we believe that this
last will prove to be the greatest tri-
umph of his genius which is saying
a great deal indeed. He has, this
time, invented and put into success
full operation mill machinery which
is to a great degree automatic, and
it is believed that he has accom-
plished the nearest approach yet
made to the solution of the great
problem of perpetual motion. The
machinery in question is so arrang-
ed that boy of ten years of age and
of ordinary intelligence can manage
its running with the slightest exer.
else, care and muscle. 1t has been
tested by a plucky Canadian miller
who had faith in Mr.. Cochran's
ability, and we arc happy indeed to
believe that our townsman will re-
pay the confidence reposed in him
with great wealth to his friend
while achieving fortune and addi-
tional fame for himself.
We regret very much to record
the sudden death of Mrs. Rose My
erly of the neighboring village OF
Sandy Hook, on last Thursday af-
ternoon. The roof of her house
caught fire by some means and the
consequent scare and excitement so
affected her as to cause her almost
instant death. She was avery esti-
mable lady, and the deepest regret
is felt for her unexpected demise.
She leaves large family Of young
children which makes the case the
more deplorable.
On Friday morning last, Mr.. Ben
jamin Shewbridge, of Bolivar, was
thrown from the platform of a car of
the accommodation train on the
Valley Branch and very severely
injured. We have not learned all
the particulars of the accident, and
we only know that it occurred at
the upper end of the island Virgin
Jus, and that Mr. Shewbridge is
hurt badly. He is an excellent cit
izen and his many friends are much
concerned for his misfortune.
This is the 2Sth anniversary-or
rather last night was-of the IA
nous Brown Raid which has given
so much fame to this village and
which. we believe, was the starting
point OF one of the greatest conflicts
in the annals of mankind and of a
revolution the effects Of which are
are beyond calculation OF the
Raid itself there is and can be but
one opinion-that it was-to use the
mildest terms which in conscience
we can apply TO it an utterly unjus
tifable invasion of peaceable COM
munity, and that much we can say
with propriety even if we grant the
claim of good intentions and devo-
ton to the cause of humanity set up
for Brown by his apologists. Of
the consequent war we prefer to say
nothing, the more so as the whole
nation appears NOW to acqulesce IN
its results and, besides, rs we took
no active part in the hostilities, we
are willing that those who DID
should, NOW, do the talking, I'M
mediately after dawn, just one solar
cycle ago, and consequently on a
Monday morning as this is, an in
offensive and industrious" though,
perhaps, trife eccentric FRESHMAN
was set upon by five of the raiders
and, under Heaven, nothing saved
him from instant death but the time
~ intervention of a generous and
selfsacriiicing colored girl who
rnshed between him and the muir